A post on one of TopGear’s blogs last week had everyone chatting about a new Lexus hybrid designed to take on the BMW 1-Series and Audi A3 in Europe. Now word comes from Lexus enthusiast site My.IS that the rumored Lexus C-Premium concept, which will debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show this fall, will arrive...
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In a strange turn of events, a source inside Toyota has told the U.K.’s AutoCar that the Japanese automaker isn’t looking to build a hybrid version of the Yaris. The source says the car won’t be built in France, Japan or anywhere; not yet anyway. Toyota does plan to build hybrid versions of every car...
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Suzuki has been in the North American marketplace for a long time, but you’d hardly know it. The Japanese automaker hopes to change all that by stepping into the ultra-competitive mid-size sedan category competing alongside cars like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Set to officially launch tomorrow, the Kizashi (or at least that’s the...
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With the launch of Nissan’s new zero-emissions website dedicated to the upcoming launch of the automaker’s new electric vehicle comes a sneak peek at the revolutionary EV. We can’t tell much from the picture but it does appear to be an expectedly-funky design and a small car to boot. That being said, if the overall...
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Just a few weeks after Toyota officially announced that it would build a hybrid version of the Corolla-based Auris in the U.K., new reports suggest a similar (but smaller) model is being prepared for Japan and Europe. The car would be built in Japan for the Japanese market and Toyota has plans to build a...
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A British police force, known for using high-powered Subaru WRX STIs, has just decided to add even more beefy power to its lineup by specking-out a Lexus IS-F to be its new high-speed chase car. While the STI’s are powerful with 300hp turbocharged four-cylinder engines, the IS-F makes 416hp thanks to a 5.0-liter V8 engine....
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Honda Performance Development (HPD), a division of Honda that is behind motorsports activities like the company’s American Le Mans Series efforts, is launching a new program to help both professional and amateur racers. Dubbed Honda Racing Line, this new grassroots motorsports initiative will allow members access to HPD and OEM products, as well as certain...
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Nissan has just released information on its upcoming electric vehicle which will launch next year in both the U.S. and Japan. The most surprising bit of news is that the lithium-ion powered vehicle is based on an all-new platform and not one of the existing Nissan chassis. The lithium-ion battery pack makes 80kW and 280Nm...
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It looks like the folks in Acura’s marketing department are working well ahead of the folks in PR, as the company’s consumer website was updated today with images of the new 2010 RDX, before any press release about the luxury crossover was sent out. We can now confirm (as can anyone who heads over to...
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Nissan is preparing to debut three electric vehicles on August 2nd, one of which is expected to be a made-in-the-USA crossover. Nissan has already said that it plans to build an electric car at its Spring Hill, Tennessee, assembly plant in the near future. According to the usually-reliable folks at Japan’s BestCar magazine, the crossover...
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According to the U.K.’s Autocar, Honda is fast-tracking a list of updates for the Insight originally scheduled for a mid-cycle makeover that’s still several years off. The focus of the changes will be to further improve fuel-economy, which while impressive at 40/43 mpg (city/highway), lags significantly behind the 2010 Prius and its 51/48 mpg rating....
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Subaru has just released details on its range-topping WRX STI Spec C model, offered exclusively for the Japanese market. With just a mild performance increase the focus of the Spec C model is on better power delivery, handling and reduced weight. The new model is intended to be a more race-ready platform. Engine output is...
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The latest bit of Acura NSX gossip points to a return of the luxury Japanese automaker’s flagship sports car, but as an all-wheel drive hybrid. 7Tune is reporting from their sources that when the next generation NSX (known as the Advanced Sports Car Concept) was canned, it was actually more of a temporary matter as...
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Infinti first introduced its current M class of mid-level luxury sedans (pictured above) back in 2005 with the ’06 model and so it’s no surprise that the Japanese luxury brand is now hard at work developing a follow-up. According to a report by Motor Trend, the luxury arm of Nissan is getting ready to show...
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Acura will not introduce a rear-drive, V8-powered luxury sedan as the automaker doesn’t need one. At least that’s what Honda president Takanobu Ito thnks. Ito told Automotive News that, “I don’t think we need a classic front-engine, rear-drive car.” Instead Ito believes Honda should chart its own course for Acura, which includes more fuel-efficient models,...
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Both Ford and Suzuki had high hopes heading into this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, but both were disappointed as neither automaker managed to run the 156 turn course in under 10 minutes. Suzuki pilot Nobuhiro ‘Monster’ Tajima still managed to run the fasted time of the day, however, at 10 minutes, 15 seconds...
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First unveiled in pre-production form at the New York Auto Show earlier this year, Acura promised the high-riding ZDX four-door coupe would make its way to dealer floors shortly without many design changes. True to their word, the folks at Acura have just released a selection of images of the controversially designed vehicle that defies...
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Mazda is reportedly in talks with Toyota over the prospect of licensing hybrid technology from Japan’s largest automaker for use in future green cars. Currently Nissan has a similar arrangement with Toyota for the Altima Hybrid. Mazda currently has one hybrid model, the Tribute HEV (pictured above), which is based on the Escape Hybrid and...
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Several weeks ago we reported that Subaru of America was looking to set a Guinness World Record for the longest parade of Subarus and over the weekend they achieved that goal. Organized by Subaru of America’s Great Lakes Region and the Village of Itasca, Illinois, the chain of Subys stretched a total of 339 cars....
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The photos above and below are reported to be of the 2010 Acura RDX, complete with a mid-cycle redesign. Visually, the entry-level luxury crossover gets a little less attractive thanks to the addition of the corporate Acura badge. And if not attractive, at least it will help to set the crossover apart in an incredibly...
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Nissan has just announced the release of the Skyline Crossover in Japan, but it’s not what you might expect. Yes, it’s all-wheel drive, but noticeably absent are two turbochargers strapped to the vehicle’s V6 engine. That is because this is actually a Japanese version of the Infiniti EX. The Infiniti brand name does not exist...
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With the ongoing recession every automaker has suffered a slide in sales, but the decline for Lexus has been more significant than at its German rivals with sales down 34.1 percent for the year so far. Lexus believes part of the reason is due to a reliance on up-market SUVs and the fact that the...
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The Jim Russell Racing Drivers School is launching a new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution driving experience. Participants will be able to get behind the wheel of Mitsu’s amazing new EVO X on one of America’s best race tracks, Infineon. Along with a classroom component, drivers will be able to pilot the track-ready EVO while they develop...
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Honda has just confirmed that it will build two additional hybrid models that will go on sale in Japan starting in February 2010. The first is the highly-anticipated CR-Z hybrid and the second is a hybrid version of the sub-compact Fit. Both models will use Honda’s IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) hybrid system, a less sophisticated...
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